We travelled from Oxfordshire to Somerset to visit friends and this gave us a whole day to check out both RSPB Ham Wall and also the neighbouring Shapwick Heath. It was a lot colder than we expected and it felt more like a winter day than a spring day. Be that as it may, we were determined to see what we could while we could stand it.
As soon as we set out we had hardly started on the main path before two Common Cranes flew slowly right over our heads – what a view. They were succeeded by a pair of Great White Egrets doing the very same. We heard several Cuckoos but did not manage to see them and we spent a lot of time looking for booming Bitterns, eventually only getting a quick glance at one flying into (then disappering inside) a reed bed right in front of us. We had the pleasure of walking over to the Avalon Hide which we have not been to on our previous visits. Perhaps it was too muddy then but, this time, we could access it by walking half way down the path and then across the bridge and following the path through the reed bed until we came to it. Again lots of looking for Bitterns but no joy.
One of the remarkable sights we saw was a group of at least a dozen Blackcaps all cavorting around in the same two trees. I was not sure wht they were doing but it was quite a sight.. There were lots of Willow Warblers and Blackcaps as well as Cetti’s Warblers but they were all somewhat elusive on a cold, windy day.
We did see half a dozen MarshHarriers and as many Great White Egrets. There were also Reed and Sedge Warblers and we managed an unusually close view of one of the former.
Over at Shapwick Heath we could also hear Bitterns booming but the stars for me were three Garganey – the first I have seen in the UK since 2014 ! Down at the hide there were ten or more Hobbies gflying above the trees and the far side of the water. We also managed to SEE a Cetti’s Warbler at last, after hearing many of them.
We had a reallly good day with some good year ticks. This site never disappoints and now Great WHite Egrets are almost boringly commonplace !
Bird Sightings : RSPB Ham Wall
| Mute Swan | 6 |
| Gadwall | 20 |
| Mallard | 20 |
| Mallard (Northern) | 20 |
| Northern Shoveler | 6 |
| Common Teal | 6 |
| Common Pochard | 8 |
| Tufted Duck | 20 |
| Little Grebe | 2 |
| Great Crested Grebe | 2 |
| Great Cormorant | 8 |
| Great Bittern | 1 |
| Grey Heron | 1 |
| Great Egret | 6 |
| Little Egret | 2 |
| Eurasian Marsh Harrier | 6 |
| Common Moorhen | 1 |
| Common Coot | 4 |
| Common Crane | 2 |
| Northern Lapwing | 2 |
| Black-headed Gull | 40 |
| Common Cuckoo | 2 |
| Eurasian Hobby | 3 |
| Eurasian Jay | 1 |
| Eurasian Jackdaw | 8 |
| Carrion Crow | 10 |
| Great Tit | 4 |
| Eurasian Blue Tit | 4 |
| Eurasian Wren | 2 |
| Cetti’s Warbler | 4 |
| Willow Warbler | 4 |
| Common Chiffchaff | 4 |
| Sedge Warbler | 2 |
| Eurasian Reed Warbler | 6 |
| Blackcap | 12 |
| European Robin | 3 |
| Eurasian Blackbird | 3 |
| Reed Bunting | 1 |
| Common Chaffinch | 6 |
We
Bird Sightings : Shapwick Heath
| Greylag Goose | 10 |
| Canada Goose | 2 |
| Garganey | 3 |
| Great Bittern | 2 |
| Eurasian Marsh Harrier | 2 |
| Black-headed Gull | 30 |
| Herring Gull | 2 |
| Lesser Black-backed Gull | 20 |
| Common Tern | 1 |
| Common Cuckoo | 1 |
| Eurasian Hobby | 10 |
| Eurasian Jay | 1 |
| Cetti’s Warbler | 3 |
| Willow Warbler | 3 |
| Common Chiffchaff | 4 |
| Sedge Warbler | 2 |